Family and Consumer Sciences Commons^™

Examining Social Desirability Bias In Measures Of Financial Behavior, Nicole L. Kelly

Theses and Dissertations

Surveys that investigate the financial lives of consumers consist of direct questions about financial behavior, with college students being a heavily surveyed and convenient sample (Gutter 2013). However, the subjective nature of survey data is not bias-free, indicated by the presence of disparities between the respondents' reported and actual behavior. Due to the fact that many students begin to acquire loans, establish credit, and initiate saving behaviors in college, it is important that we have a complete understanding the financial behavior of college students.

The goal of this study was to investigate the role of socially desirable responding (SDR) in …

Canning Jars And Patterns Of Canning Behavior: A Study Of Households On The Hector Backbone, New York. 1850-1940, Jayne Ann Michaels

Masters Theses

Typically, late 19^th or early 20^th century domestic sites contain fragments of a common item: canning jars. Such is the case regarding 21 sites along the Hector Backbone in New York State. These sites, investigated by the Finger Lakes National Forest Farmstead Archaeology Project, produced a rich sample of over 250,000 artifacts and thousands related to canning.

The objective of this thesis is to explore the potential of these common artifacts to yield important information about these Backbone households. Specifically, my questions include: when did these households adopt canning and who were they?

The intentional decision to include …

The Impact Of Knowledge And Gender On Young Adults' Perceptions Regarding Beer And Food Pairings, Dylan Conrad Martinez

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Food and wine pairings are commonly seen among empirical research. Minimal research exists concerning beer and food pairings, yet food analysts are taking note of higher rates of beer and food pairings occurring. As such, these exploratory studies examine young adults’, experts’ and novices’ knowledge of beer and food pairings along with gender differences and sensory pairing of beer and chocolate. A survey was used to identify both subjective and objective knowledge along with a test to determine appropriateness of expert and novice choices. It was found that males had greater objective knowledge of beer and food pairing than females, …

Preferences And Nutrient Composition: The Impact Of Flour Types On Battered Fried Food, Lobat Siahmakoun

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the impact of different flour-batter types on protein rich food in regard to people’s overall liking and sensory preferences (saltiness, flavor, texture, moisture, and color). In addition, all battered fried chicken, fish, shrimp, pork, and beef were analyzed for fat, calories, and protein content in the Central Analytical Laboratory at the University of Arkansas. Two hundred thirty-five participants completed the questionnaire containing five major sections. Respondents evaluated samples of battered fried chicken, fish, shrimp, pork, and beef using all-purpose flour (APF), rice-flour (RF), and potato flour (PF). Data was analyzed using binomial analysis and paired sample t-test …

Careers In Aging: Increasing Interest And Investigating Career Paths, Paul Cunnington

Masters Theses

This qualitative study explored the perspective of young professionals on how to increase interest in choosing a career in the field of aging and how their own career path led to their current employment in the field of aging. Fifteen professionals in the field of aging, ranging in age from 23 to 34, participated in semi-­‐structured interviews. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis. Results confirmed prior research that professionals working in the field of aging come from a variety of disciplines. Participants noted attractive aspects of a career in the field of aging, including flexibility and mobility. To increase …

Consumer Perceptions Of Apparel Fit Satisfaction And Sizing Based Upon 3d Body Scanning And Block Garment Assessment, Nicole Lee Coury

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of this study were to first, determine whether Walmart, Inc. customers are purchasing the correct size garments for their body measurements, and their perceptions of the fit of Walmart, Inc. clothing prior to trying on the current block garments. The next objective was to determine which factors influence fit satisfaction after the participants have tried on the current block garments. Hypothesis 1 tested participants' perceived size and their actual size, Hypothesis 2 tested participants' pre and post try-on fit satisfaction perceptions, and Hypothesis 3, 4, and 5 tested which factors have a significant effect on garment fit satisfaction. …

Influence Of Parents, Peers, Internet Product Search And Visual Social Media On College Students’ Purchase Behavior: A Mixed Methods Study, Jennifer E. Johnson

Department of Textiles, Merchandising, and Fashion Design: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Visually-oriented online social networking websites (VSNS) have become frontrunners in the race for popularity among all other online social networks. Pinterest, Instagram, Wanelo, and Snapchat have allowed for consumers to share their everyday lives, as well as the products that define their personal cultures. Products that require less financial and social risk tend to not only be influenced by online social networking websites, but also by peers (Kim & Sung, 2008). Products that require more financial and social risk tend to be influenced by family members and the amount of Internet product search behavior (Drozdenko, Jensen, & Coelho, 2012). Little …

School Gardens: Cultivating A Child’S Nutritional Habits, Environmental Knowledge, And Sustainability Practices, Jeffrey Meltzer

Honors Theses

School gardens have existed since the late nineteenth century and today are becoming increasingly popular in many parts of the world, including where I studied in Maine and Australia (AUS). Multiple organizations support school gardens in Maine, including the Maine School Garden Network, which has over 125 registered school gardens. In AUS, the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation primarily supports the school garden movement and has over 800 registered school gardens. While many researchers have studied school gardens, few have compared two countries, focused on environmental sustainability, or investigated Maine in particular. This thesis combines information from literature reviews, and …